Friday's Afternoon Update
Florida Legislature extends COVID liability protections. Are they still needed?
Florida’s coronavirus state of emergency expired 229 days ago. But in health care facilities, the pandemic is still very much ongoing, according to backers of a bill headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk. Under the bills, families or residents seeking to sue a health care provider for a COVID-19-related injury or death would need evidence that a specific individual acted with intent to harm or showed a conscious disregard for the infected person’s life. Though at least 18 other states passed similar health care immunity legislation, Florida’s included a particularly steep requirement — plaintiffs must obtain a doctor’s statement, made under oath, backing their claim. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the News Service of Florida.
Elon Musk confident SpaceX Starship to fly by year end, could pivot to Kennedy Space Center
SpaceX founder Elon Musk said he expects to fly what would be the most powerful rocket to ever launch from the Earth by year’s end, but if it can’t do it sooner from Texas like it had planned, the company will shift efforts to Kennedy Space Center. To date, the company has flown prototype versions to about 6 miles, and attempted landings back in Texas, sometimes to fiery results. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Florida, other states must submit electric vehicle charging station plans to feds by this fall
It could be a pivotal step in modernizing America’s highways for electric vehicles. States are getting the go-ahead to build a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging stations that would place new or upgraded ones every 50 miles along interstate highways as part of the Biden administration’s plan to spur widespread adoption of the zero-emission cars. More from WJXT.
Tampa telecom firm Syniverse’s $2.8 billion deal to go public is scrapped
A $2.86 billion deal that would have returned Tampa telecommunications company back to public trading is no more. The proposed merger with special purpose acquisition company M3-Brigade Acquisition II Corp. fell apart before a shareholder vote scheduled for Wednesday, according to a Syniverse spokesperson. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
JPMorgan Chase gives $5 million to Miami nonprofits to boost business options for care workers
Bank and financial services company JPMorgan Chase is providing a Miami-based collaborative of three nonprofits with $5 million over three years to support workers in the care economy. Nonprofits Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida, Miami Workers Center and Catalyst Miami are getting the money as a reward for winning AdvanceCities, a competition aimed at devising sustainable solutions for communities and professionals affected by COVID-19. More from the Miami Herald.
Business Beat - Week of February 11th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video news brief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Out of the Box
Traveling pasta instructor brings a taste of Italy to Gainesville homes
A classic lasagna paired with a modest pinot noir at a tasteable Italian restaurant — the ideal date night for many before the COVID-19 pandemic halted dinner plans everywhere. But one Gainesville resident plans to bring the restaurant to residents. In August 2020, Elena Pollio launched Pasta by Pollio — a business dedicated to visiting homes to teach pasta-making. The breadth of her classes range from preparing homemade pasta to pairing the right wine with a meal. Some of her signature recipes include her herbal goat cheese ravioli and pumpkin ravioli.
» Read more from the Alligator.